Massachusetts now has its own Armstrong Williams

He's Charles D. Chieppo. Seems Chieppo, a Boston Herald Op-Ed columnist who decided to take a second gig promoting governor Mitt Romney's Environmental policies.

At first, the Herald was hunky-dory with it, because he disclosed it to the Herald and because he agreed not to write about any topics related to his contract.

Sure, he just had to avoid talking about the Governor's environmental policies, but would presumably be "free" to discuss the Governor, the Governor's presidential aspirations, the State GOP, and all state and national politics as if he had no pecuniary interest in any of it.

Of course, the Herald saw no reason to disclose this little arrangement to its readers.

Now the Herald has fired him. Seems he failed to disclose an earlier contract he had with the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority.

Who can blame them? Can you imagine what it is like to be kept in the dark about a columnist's conflicts of interests?

I'm sure the Herald's readers could tell them.

Quote for the Ages

Bernice (my intended) and I went shopping for wedding rings this week. Before we went into a shop, she said, "Don't get your heart too set on any particular ring. At our income, we can't afford to fall in love with anything but each other."

The Five Stages of Bush's Approval Ratings Drop

These are Google News search Headlines only, so there my be even more good tidbits in the media/blogosphere

Denial
Bush's Approval Rating Solid (Family News In Focus)
Poll: President Bush Approval Up, Ahead of Second Term Clinton ... (National Ledger, AZ)

Anger
Bush's Approval Rating Is Irrelevant (RushLimbaugh.com - subscription)

Fear
Bush Approval Ratings Fluctuate (Outside the Beltway)

Bargaining
Bush's Approval Rating in Perspective (Gallup Poll News)

Finally,

Acceptance (to a point)
Sweet run hits 'sour' patch (Washington Times)